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Tuesday, 23 February 2016

My long weekend in Madrid - Day 3 (morning) - Convento de las Descalzas Reales - The 20th of February 2016

We left Maravillas's slightly later than we had initially expected because we got involved in a rather interesting morning conversation as we were having breakfast and seemingly forgot about the time.

Soon after having reached Sol we headed to the Convent of las Descalzas Reales though we were only able to book the guided visit for eleven o'clock. No photos could be taken, which is a pity really because the visit to this Convent was clearly the highlight of our stay in Madrid.

It took just over one hour as we moved along the magnificent lower and upper cloister connected by an outstandingly beautiful staircase whose side walls are totally covered in mural paintings. Once in the upper cloister we visited the West and South wing chapels, the antechoir, the choir and the North and East wing chapels.

We then continued onto the second floor where I was flabbergasted by the tapestries woven in Brussels that cover the walls of the tapestry room. The Chapter House and the Hall of the Kings had a strong impact on me as well.

Despite the fact that a number of rooms are close to the public and one cannot walk about freely it is really worth being visited.